The day of the competition started with Hyunjin inviting Taeul and Euntak, revising for an exam with Felix over lunch, and meeting up at Minho's place to coordinate clothes and warm up a bit, as they wouldn't have a chance to stretch in peace at the event.

In the end, only Felix chose a sheer shirt.

The student council had repurposed the largest auditorium in the dance department for the occasion, going so far as to install coloured lights and a stage. The stage wasn't very high, but it did give six people room to dance.

Hyunjin, Felix and Minho arrived to find Jeongin introducing Taeul and Euntak to Chan, Jisung and Seungmin, girls looking delighted at more producers being there and answering questions about songwriting. They'd even listened to 3Racha songs.

"Where's Changbin-hyung?" Hyunjin asked instead of a greeting.

Jisung rolled his eyes. "You only care about your boyfriend, what about your platonic soulmate? Oh Minho! You look good," Jisung blushed in Minho's general direction.

Hyunjin and Taeul exchanged an eye roll and Euntak giggled.

"You..." Chan said, in true Chan fashion only having eyes for Felix.

"Me?" Felix smiled. "Yes, Chris?"

"You're beautiful," Chan marveled. He reached for Felix's hand, threading their fingers together.

Felix's smile turned into a smirk. "Minho-hyung, I'm telling you. This is why we're the cutest couple on campus."

"You think," Changbin cut in, appearing in their midst. "Hey Taeul, Euntak, I'm glad you could make it."

Taeul replied something polite, probably, but Hyunjin didn't hear. Changbin was wearing a suit. Like an actual suit, with his hair styled, to an informal dance performance. Oh, not a whole suit, skinny jeans that looked very good on him and boots, but an entire jacket and a black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone.

"Here," Changbin said to Hyunjin, handing him a bouquet of red roses.

Hyunjin's brain worked on autopilot, accepting the roses. "But we haven't even performed yet?"

Changbin rolled his eyes. "It's not like I can just hide them in my pocket until later. They're for you, and I'll hold them while you dance."

"Huh, okay," Hyunjin's eyes widened as his brain caught up. "Hyung! You really didn't have to."

"I wanted to," Changbin smiled.

Hyunjin leaned in and kissed his cheek.

Minho grumbled something under his breath that Hyunjin couldn't hear, Jisung laughed at them, and Seungmin stared at Jeongin with red cheeks. Jeongin didn't even glance at Seungmin.

Oh shit, Hyunjin thought. Did he act just as oblivious as Jeongin, before everything happened? Because it was downright painful to watch how Seungmin lifted his hand to reach out to Jeongin, only to drop it to his side. How Jeongin smiled up at him only for his attention to be caught by something else.

Changbin leaned in close to Hyunjin, noticing his gaze. "They'll figure it out. We did, too, didn't we?"

"Yeah, after a week of fake dating," Hyunjin rolled his eyes. He leaned into Changbin. "But you're right. We'll be there for them, too."

As a group, they chose seats in the front, and Minho went to the check in point to see at what time they'd be performing.

Hyunjin gripped Changbin's hand, suddenly clammy. Stage fright just never really stopped, or if it did, Hyunjin didn't know. It got better over time, and the low pressure event filled him up in equal parts with dread and excitement. Changbin squeezed his hand.

The lights dimmed and a group of students stepped on the stage to announce the beginning of the night. Two of them started with a short, lighthearted kpop dance cover, setting the mood for the first solo performers.

Finally it was time for DanceRacha, as they had jokingly called themselves on the sign up paper.

"Hold my flowers," Hyunjin whispered and handed his flowers to Changbin, following his friends on stage, head held high. They exchanged a short hand touch – Minho's mom friend influence – and got into position, nodding to the people controlling the sound system and the lights. His eyes found Changbin and their friends in the crowd.

As soon as the music started, his body took over. Weeks of practising this had paid off, and the movements came easy.

The crowd, full of dancers having fun, cheered at every body roll and every time they synchronized. Which was a lot, really.

Hyunjin couldn't keep his eyes away from Changbin for long, except when the choreography demanded. It was intoxicating and thrilling, being on a stage next to Felix and Minho, dancing to a song they wrote.

The adrenaline in his veins veiled the burn in his muscles by the end of the choreography. Breathing heavily, he stood with Minho and Felix in the center of the stage, and at this point they could really only hope they looked cool.

Judging by the storm of applause and wave of cheers they got, they looked very cool. Minho gestured for a mic, and was handed one in no time.

"Thank you, everyone," Minho began a speech he had not told Hyunjin and Felix he would be making.

Yeet, Hyunjin thought. It couldn't be too embarrassing, right?

"I'll keep it short," Minho continued, "the song you've just heard was written and sung by us three, but nothing would have been possible without the help of our friends, specifically my boyfriend, Han Jisung."

The crowd cheered here, and Hyunjin could see Jisung blush and hide his face in Chan's shoulder. Hyunjin furrowed his brows. Minho was up to something if he so blatantly ignored Chan and Changbin's existence.

Minho cleared his throat. "You can find our song on Soundcloud under 3Racha, but I have one more thing to say. Well, to ask, really." He pulled something from his pocket. "Han Jisung, I love you," Minho declared, "and I know that we can't get a real certificate in this country, yet, but I know how I feel about you." He got on one knee, reminiscent of the choreography, and said: "Marry me?"

In the second of hushed silence, Hyunjin and Felix exchanged a panicked glance.

Then noise came back, and Jisung sprinted on stage into Minho's arms. He pried the mic out of Minho's hand, smirked at the audience and said, loud and clear, "Yes," just in case the way he kissed Minho right after left anyone confused.

Hyunjin and Felix helped shove a starstruck and in love Minho back to his seat, handing the mic back to the student council member who congratulated them with a big smile. Jisung clung to Minho.

The next group stepped on stage just as Hyunjin sat back down next to Changbin, who handed him back his roses and pulled him into a kiss.

"You're amazing," Changbin whispered in his ear. "I love you."

Hyunjin blushed. He rested a hand on Changbin's thigh and hugged his roses close. "I love you too."

The rest of the performances were awesome, but no other public proposal happened. Boring, right? The performances ended with good vibes all around, people flocking into groups and congratulating each other, wishing Minho and Jisung good luck and happiness and other marriage stuff that Hyunjin didn't pay much attention to.

Hyunjin's attention was on Changbin's hand in his and the wide eyed wonder in Euntak's eyes and the excited questions coming from Taeul. Because Hyunjin was a responsible adult who looked out for the tiny people who shared his love for Itzy.

Felix appeared next to him, smiling like the entire sun. "Jinnie!"

"Lixie," Hyunjin replied, "how're you feeling?"

"Brilliant," Felix beamed.

Minho appeared between them, throwing his arms over their shoulders. "We did great. I'm proud of you."

"Minho-hyung," Hyunjin whined, "I literally can't believe you just did that! Congratulations, hyung."

"Yeah," Felix said, voice deep and filled with love, "that was surprising, but when it comes to you and Jisung, everything's possible."

"Ha!" Minho burst out laughing, "I proved that Jisung and I are the cutest couple on campus. You have no chance now. If you'll excuse me, my future husband and I will go home to our children." Minho furrowed his brows. "I'm honestly kind of worried Dori caught a cold."

"What?" Hyunjin, immediately worried, gripped Minho's wrist. "Give him kisses from me. And let me know if he gets worse, and keep me updated?"

Minho and Felix turned to him.

"That's sus, Hyunjin," Felix said after a pause.

"Oh, uh," Hyunjin cleared his throat and averted his eyes. Changbin, next to him, was already laughing, so Hyunjin elbowed him. "I mean, um, maybe getting a dog too will be good for Dori's mental health?"

"I'll let you live, for now," Minho said, narrowing his eyes, "but this conversation isn't over."

Jisung, for once in his life actually being Hyunjin's platonic soulmate, distracted Minho by taking his hand and smiling.

Changbin stepped on his toes to kiss Hyunjin's cheek. "That was close, Jinnie."

Hyunjin waited until Felix's attention was a hundred percent on an adoring Chan, who had spent the last hours distracted because of Felix's shirt. Seungmin and Jeongin entertained the girls, Jisung and Minho were in their own world.

They were outside by now, on the lawn in front of the building, slowly moving toward the nearest bus station. The cool night air blew Hyunjin's hair into his face, but Changbin's warm hand was there, brushing the strands from his eyes. Changbin's hand rested in his.

"Well, I'll try pretending I don't like cats first, but it's always a good time to get a plan B," Hyunjin said at last.

Changbin smiled, "We can get you your daily Soonie updates from Jisung. The weaker link, and all that."

Hyunjin laughed. "You're right, Binnie-hyung. I only have to offer a hug to Jisung, and he'll send me all the cat pictures he has on his phone."

"I love you so much," Changbin said, cupping Hyunjin's face and leaning in for a kiss.

Hyunjin returned the kiss, smiling against his lips. He'd get his updates on the cats, and Dori would be okay. "I love you too," he whispered.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Trevor staring at him and Changbin, mouth open in shock. Hyunjin laughed and waved, then took Changbin's hand in his and tugged his boyfriend along after their friends. Their fingers intertwined.

~~~

The end.

Thank you all for reading this far.